I’ve never really been one to do reviews. If you’re expecting @bigjake83 , @LRRPF52 , or @sinister level info or details you’re gonna be disappointed. I don’t take a lot of pics, the ones I take are crappy, and I have poor grammer.
So any time people ask about large frames I usually recommend buying from a company with a track record of building accurate, reliable large frames. I’ve built a few good shooting 308’s and still have one home build. In the world of large frames I believe factory guns are better for most people since the good companies develope and test their systems. I like, own, and shoot LMT MWS’s, Seekins SP10’s, and Armalite AR10’s. I feel like the Armalites are better than 90% of the factory large frames on the market and recommend them a lot. I don’t know how but PSA has been blowing out both large and small frame Armalites for months now. I’ve had a B series for years and figured I’d pick up an A since they were so cheap.
Here’s the product description and specs on PSA’s site.
After taxes, shipping and insurance
Add a $25 transfer fee, $1474.25
I cleaned, lubed, removed the brake, added a Surefire 3 prong, attached my Atlas bipod, borrowed a scope and mount from another of my rifles, and headed to our property to see how it shot.
I shot 4 different types of ammo. I didn’t have a ton of time so I didn’t take pics of all the groups. I tend to shoot my gas guns faster than most do while shooting groups. I break a shot, follow through, and as soon as the reticle settles back on target, break the next shot. I don’t usually wait for a cool down. I tend to find out fairly quickly if the gun strings shots or chokes when it heats up. Everything I shot today was at 100 yards prone. Atlas bipod and a rear squeeze bag.
I got a rough zero and just plinked a box of federal xm80 away. No malfunctions. The gun had a soft recoil impulse so I didn’t mess with the gas block. For those who care, 4:30 ejection. Brass piled up about 5’ away. Roughly 2.5-4 moa groups from 2.5-4 moa ammo. Cool
I had half a box of 168gr Black Hills Red box ammo. This ammo has always shot well in my LMT guns. It usually produces .8-1.2 moa groups from the chrome lined LMT barrels. 5 shot groups from the Armalite were about the same, one .75 and one 1 moa. No malfunctions. 4:00 ejection pattern. Didn’t adjust the gas.
Next up was Hornady 168ELDM Match. No joke, 3 moa 5 shot groups. I shot 2 groups and quit with this ammo. 4:00 ejection. No malfunctions.
Last ammo I shot was Hornady Black 168gr AMAX. I shot a 5 round group that was about .7 moa. I figured I’d give myself and the rifle a good challenge and loaded up a 20 round mag and shot 1 20 round group. 4:00 ejection. No malfunctions.
Pic of target.
Shots marked 14-17, 4 of the first 5 fired in the group. They we’re from a different box of ammo. I checked and they were from different lots. To me, this explains the 2 distinct groups within the 20 shot string.
So, I’m happy with the gun for what it cost me. This was just an initial impression. It’s only 65 rounds at this point. If it’s like my other Armalite, it should maintain this level of accuracy and reliability. I’ll update the thread when I get more data and will get more pics along the way.
So any time people ask about large frames I usually recommend buying from a company with a track record of building accurate, reliable large frames. I’ve built a few good shooting 308’s and still have one home build. In the world of large frames I believe factory guns are better for most people since the good companies develope and test their systems. I like, own, and shoot LMT MWS’s, Seekins SP10’s, and Armalite AR10’s. I feel like the Armalites are better than 90% of the factory large frames on the market and recommend them a lot. I don’t know how but PSA has been blowing out both large and small frame Armalites for months now. I’ve had a B series for years and figured I’d pick up an A since they were so cheap.
Here’s the product description and specs on PSA’s site.
After taxes, shipping and insurance
Add a $25 transfer fee, $1474.25
I cleaned, lubed, removed the brake, added a Surefire 3 prong, attached my Atlas bipod, borrowed a scope and mount from another of my rifles, and headed to our property to see how it shot.
I shot 4 different types of ammo. I didn’t have a ton of time so I didn’t take pics of all the groups. I tend to shoot my gas guns faster than most do while shooting groups. I break a shot, follow through, and as soon as the reticle settles back on target, break the next shot. I don’t usually wait for a cool down. I tend to find out fairly quickly if the gun strings shots or chokes when it heats up. Everything I shot today was at 100 yards prone. Atlas bipod and a rear squeeze bag.
I got a rough zero and just plinked a box of federal xm80 away. No malfunctions. The gun had a soft recoil impulse so I didn’t mess with the gas block. For those who care, 4:30 ejection. Brass piled up about 5’ away. Roughly 2.5-4 moa groups from 2.5-4 moa ammo. Cool
I had half a box of 168gr Black Hills Red box ammo. This ammo has always shot well in my LMT guns. It usually produces .8-1.2 moa groups from the chrome lined LMT barrels. 5 shot groups from the Armalite were about the same, one .75 and one 1 moa. No malfunctions. 4:00 ejection pattern. Didn’t adjust the gas.
Next up was Hornady 168ELDM Match. No joke, 3 moa 5 shot groups. I shot 2 groups and quit with this ammo. 4:00 ejection. No malfunctions.
Last ammo I shot was Hornady Black 168gr AMAX. I shot a 5 round group that was about .7 moa. I figured I’d give myself and the rifle a good challenge and loaded up a 20 round mag and shot 1 20 round group. 4:00 ejection. No malfunctions.
Pic of target.
Shots marked 14-17, 4 of the first 5 fired in the group. They we’re from a different box of ammo. I checked and they were from different lots. To me, this explains the 2 distinct groups within the 20 shot string.
So, I’m happy with the gun for what it cost me. This was just an initial impression. It’s only 65 rounds at this point. If it’s like my other Armalite, it should maintain this level of accuracy and reliability. I’ll update the thread when I get more data and will get more pics along the way.
